Outboard motor lifting device



Aug. 19, 1969 11.1.. VIERLING 3,461,832

OUTBOQRD MOTOR LIFTING DEVICE Filed July 11, 1967 United States Patent 3,461,832 OUTBOARD MOTOR LIFTING DEVICE Robert L. Vierling, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Floyd C. Vierling, Chicago, Ill. Filed July 11, 1967, Ser. No. 652,439 Int. Cl. B63h 21/26 US. Cl. 11541 8 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An outboard motor lifting device for a motor boat, comprising a lever arm, hinge means having a first swivel supporting the arm for fore and aft movement, and second swivel supporting the arm for lateral swinging movement on the boat to a storage position, a cable or other tension element connected to the arm and adapted to be removably connected to the outboard motor, the arm preferably having an extensible portion for increasing the effective leverage of the arm, and a bracket adapted to be mounted on the boat at a position spaced laterally from the hinge means for supporting the arm in its storage position.

This invention relates to a new and improved device for swinging an outboard motor upwardly from its normal position of use on a motor boat, to its raised position, in which the propeller is lifted above its normal level. Those skilled in the art will be familiar with the fact that it is frequently necessary to lift an outboard motor to its raised position, so that the boat may be moved into shallow water, without any danger of damaging or fouling the propeller.

conventionally, an outboard motor is provided with a swingable support, so that the motor and the propeller may be swung upwardly. The typical outboard motor is equipped with a handle which may be used by the operator to lift the motor. This arrangement is satisfactory for small outboard motors. However, many large outboard motors are so heavy and unwieldy that it is difficult and awkward to lift the motor, particularly for an operator who is small in stature. Such large outboard motors have come into widespread use. Thus, the difliculty of lifting outboard motors has become a significant problem, particularly when the motorboat is to be operated by women or juveniles, which is frequently the case.

The present invention provides a device which makes it easy to lift an outboard motor, even when the motor is large, and the operator is small in stature. Generally, the motor lifting device of the present invention comprises a lever arm which is mounted on the boat by hinge means. A cable or other tension means is connected to an intermediate point on the lever arm, and is adapted to be connected to the outboard motor. Preferably, the tension member is arranged so that it may be removably connected to the lifting handle on the motor. The lever arm may be swung in a fore and aft direction so that the motor may be raised and lowered. Preferably, the hinge means provide a universal mounting so that the lever arm may also be swung laterally to a position in which it may be compactly stored. A bracket is preferably provided on the boat to support the lever in its storage position. As an added feature, the lever arm may have an extensible portion, whereby the leverage afforded by the arm may be increased. For storage, the extensible portion may be retracted.

Further objects, advantages and features of the present invention will appear from the following description, taken with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary diagrammatic elevational sec- 3,461,832 Patented Aug. 19, 1969 tion, showing an outboard motor lifting device to be described as an illustrative embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary front elevation showing the manner in which the lever arm may be moved to its storage position, the view being taken generally as indicated by the line 22 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary section, taken generally along the line 3--3 in FIG. 2.

It will be seen that FIG. 1 illustrates a boat 10 which is equipped with an outboard motor 12. As in the usual case, the motor 12 has a mounting bracket 14 which is clamped or otherwise secured to the rear wall or transom 16 of the motorboat 10.

The entire motor 12, including the propeller 18, is swingable upwardly about a pivot 20, carried by the mounting bracket 14. Thus, the propeller may be raised to clear the bottom in shallow water, or to avoid any other obstruction.

The illustrated motor 12 is equipped with a handle 22 which is intended to be used by the operator in lifting the motor. The handle 22 is located at the rear of the motor 12. The illustrated motor is of large size, with the result that considerable force must be exerted on the handle 22 to lift the motor. Moreover, due to the large size of the motor 12, the handle 22 is located at a considerable distance to the rear of the transom 16, so that an operator of small stature will have considerable difliculty in reaching the handle and exerting sufficient force to lift the motor.

However, the present invention provides a lifting device 24 which comprises a lever arm 26. Hinge means 28 are provided to mount the lower end of the lever arm 26 on the boat. The hinge means 28 may be connected to any suitable portion of the boat 10. In the illustrated construction, the hinge means 28 are connected to the front flange 30 of a pan or deck member 32 which extends across the boat, in front of the transom 16. The deck member 32 is rigidly secured to the boat 10. The flange 30 projects downwardly from the forward edge of the deck member 32.

Preferably, the hinge means 28 provide the universal swivel mounting for the lever 26, so that the lever may be swung laterally, as well as in a fore and aft direction. Thus, the illustrated hinge means 28 comprise a first wivel 34, whereby the lever arm 26 may be swung fore and aft, and a second swivel 36 so that the lever arm may be swung laterally. The first swivel 34 is illustrated in the form of a pivot bolt which extends through the lower end of the lever arm 26 and also through the arms 38 of a U-shaped bracket 40. The second swivel 36 is also illustrated as a pivot bolt, extending through the base 42 of the U-shaped bracket 40, and also through a bore 44 in the supporting flange 30. Washers 46 and 48 are preferably mounted on the bolt 36, on the opposite sides of the flange 30.

The lifting device 24 also comprises a tension member 50, which may assume various forms, but is illustrated as a cable. One end of the tension member 50 is connected to an intermediate point on the lever arm 26. As shown, a bracket 52 is mounted on the lever arm 26 to retain the cable 50. The other end of the cable 50 is adapted to be removably connected to the outboard motor 12, so that the lever arm 26 may be employed to lift the motor. As shown, the cable is formed as a loop so that it may be hooked behind the lifting handle 22.

By virtue of the universal swivel hinge 28, the lever arm 26 may be swung laterally to a storage position, as illustrated in broken lines in FIG. 2. It is preferred to provide a bracket 52 to support the lever arm 26 when it is swung to its storage position. The illustrated bracket 52 is U-shaped to receive and retain the lever arm 26. The bracket 52 is adapted to be secured to the flange 30, or

any other suitable supporting member on the boat 10. When the lever arm 26 is in its storage position, the cable 50 may be wrapped around the lever so that the cable will be out of the way. As an added feature, the lever arm 26 is' preferably provided with an extensible member 54, whereby the length of the lever arm may be raised so that it will afford increased leverage. Preferably, the extensible member 54 is arranged to telescope into the lever arm 26. Thus, extensible member 54 may be retracted when the lever arm 26 is to be stored, as shown in broken lines in FIG. 2. By virtue of the extensible member 54, the lever arm 26 may be extended to a length considerably greater than could be accommodated by the space available when the lever is to be stored. For storage, the extensible member 54 may be retracted so that the lever will be accommodated in the available space in the boat.

When the lever arm 26 is not in use, it is conveniently stored in a horizontal position, extending laterally from the hinge means 28, as shown in broken lines in FIG. 2. The bracket 52 supports and retains the lever 26.

When the lever arm 26 is to be used, it is swung upwardly to a vertical position. The cable 50 is then attached to the lifting handle 22 on the outboard motor. To afford the maximum leverage, the extensible member 54 is then extended. The motor 12 may be lifted by swinging the lever 26 forwardly.

When the lever arm 26 is again to be stored, the extensible member 54 i retracted, and the cable 50 is wrapped around the lever arm. The arm is then swung laterally to a horizontal position, in which it is supported by the bracket 52. Thus, the lever arm is always available, but is out of the way when not in use.

I claim:

1. An outboard motor lifting device for a motorboat,

said device comprising an elongated lever arm,

hinge means for swingably mounting the lower end of said arm on the boat,

and a tension member connected to said lever arm at an intermediate point,

said tension member having means for removably connecting said tension member to the outboard motor, said hinge means comprising a universal swivel mounting for said lever arm whereby said lever arm is swingable in a fore and aft direction about said hinge means for lifting the motor while also being swingable laterally to a storage position when said tension member is disconnected from the motor.

2. A device according to claim 1,

in which said universal swivel mounting comprises a first swivel supporting said lever arm for fore and aft movement, and

a second swivel supporting said lever arm for lateral swinging movement.

3. A device according to claim 1,

including a bracket adapted to be mounted on the boat for supporting the lever arm in its storage position.

4. A device according to claim 1,

including a bracket adapted to be mounted on the boat in a position spaced laterally from said hinge means for supporting the lever arm in its storage position.

5. A device according to claim 1,

in which said lever arm includes an extensible member for increasing the leverage afforded by said arm.

6. A device according to claim 1,

in which said lever arm comprises an extensible member telescopically mounted thereon for increasing the effective leverage of said arm.

7. A device according to claim 1,

in which said tension member comprises a cable with a loop for disengageably connecting the cable to the motor.

8. A device according to claim 4,

in which said lever arm comprises an extensible portion for increasing the leverage afforded by said arm,

said extensible portion being movable into a retracted position when the lever arm is swung into its storage position.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,615,418 10/1952 Aspenleiter 18 2,702,173 2/1955 Young 2484 2,916,009 12/1959 Baird 115-41 2,979,017 4/1961 Soper 115-41 X TRYGVE M. BLIX, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 248-4 

